Closure means for receptacles



April 4, "5.39. v. E. CORNELL I CLOSURE MEANS 1 3P RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 31 1954- 4 Sheets-Sheet l April 4-, 1939. v CORNELL 2,152, I

CLOSURE MEANS FOR RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 31, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 13. v. E. CORNELL CLOSURE MEANS FOR RECEPTACLES 4 SheetsSheet 3 Filed Jan. 31, 1954 INVENTOR.

W 1939. v. E. CORNELL 2,152,634

CLOSURE MEANS FOR RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 51, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES CLOSURE MEANS FOR- BEOEPTACLES Vernon E. Cornell, Garfield Heights, Ohio, as signor to Cornell Securities Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application January 31, 1934, Serial No. 709,221

9 Claims.

My invention relates to containers or receptacles and closures therefor. One object of the invention is to provide improved means of simple. construction for. securel but detachably 5 clamping the cover of a receptacle or drum to its rim or'- circumferential head in a fluid tight manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sealing means for the cover of a receptacle havm ing an improved clamping mechanism arranged to secure and seal the cover in position without imparting strain or pressure on the cover walls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a split sealing ring arranged to externally enl6 ga e portions of a cover and receptacle and having within the cover area improved operating connections or mechanism between the ring ends operable independently of and without engagement with the walls of the cover or receptacle go for clamping the ring in position and releasing it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a split sealing ring for the cover of a receptacle arranged to externally engage portions of :5 the cover and receptacle and having an improved mechanism within the periphery of the cover and comprising co-acting elements between and connected to the" ring ends arranged to draw the ends together and effect a circumferential contraction of the ring without causing outward pressure on either or both of the ring ends.

Another object of the invention is to provide a split sealing ring for securing a cover to areceptacle and arranged to externally engage portions of the cover and receptacle and having an improved mechanism within the area of the cover and comprising co-acting elements connected to the ring ends and operable in contracting or expanding the ring along an imaginary are within 0 the ring, so that in clamping the ring in position it is contracted substantially uniformly throughout its circumference and its ends are moved into aligned end to end relation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved closure sealing means comprising a split, contractible and expandible ring having between its ends and within its area a thrust member and means for operating it endwise to D contract or expand the ring and laterally to lock it in one position or'to release it for endwise movement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a split contractible and expandible ring 5 having between its ends and within its area operating connections which contract and expand the ring and lock it in either position.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description considered in connection with 6 the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a container provided with a closure means embodying my invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 2-2, 3-3 and 4-8, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the position of the parts and the ring when the latter is partially expanded, a portion of the crank being removed to facilitate the illustration.

. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rack member. 15

Figs. '7 and 8 are plan views showing modified forms of construction.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the rack member shown in Fig. 8.

Figs. 10 and 11 are sections on the lines |0l0 and "-1 I, respectively, of Fig. 8.

Fig-12-is a plan view showing a. diiierent embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 13 and 14 are sections on the lines I3-I3 and I 4l4, respectively, of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 isa perspective view'of the gear element, in inverted position, shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a ring and operating connection therefor showing a further embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 17, 18 and 19 are sections on the lines "-41, iii-i8 and iS-IS, respectively, of Fig. 16.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary plan view showing the position of the parts when the ring is expanded.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the lug and'rack and guides thereon. a

In the drawings, referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, i indicates a receptacle, barrel or drum such as ordinarily used for shipment of solids, semiliquids and liquids, including foods, oils, grease and the like. In the form shown, the open end of the receptacle I is formed with an outwardly rolled portion, providing a false head 1, to reinforce the upper end of the receptacle and to form a seat for a cover 3. The cover 3 is preferably cup-shaped and provided with an outwardly extending flange 4, of arc-shape in cross section to fit the upper portion of the bead 2. Any form of packing ring 2 is inserted be- 50 tween the bead 2 and flange 4, so that when a sealing ring, such as indicated as an entirety at 5, is secured in position the cover is clamped to the head 2 and sealed in a liquid tight manner. As the ring may be readily clamped and unring is preferably continuous from end to end and formed of a single section of metal rolled into U-shape. The metal of the ringS is resilient and preferably normally tends to expand circumferentially to a position which permits of its assembly and removal. 6, 6' indicate lugs extending inwardly from the upper wall of the ring adjacent its ends and parallel to the cover top when the ring is in position. Each lug may be formed integrally with or welded or riveted to the ring wall. The inner portions of the lugs 8, 8' may be off-set into a plane below the upper ring wall, if desired. The operating mechanism, indicated as an entirety at], is preferably arranged in either arrangement of the lugs so that it, except the operating crank thereof, will not project above the upper ring wall. By preference, the opposed edges of the lugs 6, 6' are provided with interlocking elements, such as a notch 8 (having converging side walls)- formed in one lug and a complementary projection 8' on the other lug, which elements prevent lateral relative movements of the ring ends when the clamping or operating mechanism 1 contracts the ring into its final clamping position. The-clamping or operating mechanism 1 is arranged'to effect a movement of the ring ends, in contracting or expanding the ring along an imaginary arc substantially concentric to an axis, at approximately the opposite side of the ring. As a result of this movement, the opposite portions of the ring expand the contract about this axis, so that (a) any tendency of either ring end to be forced outwardly and project beyond the other ring end is eliminated and (b) the ring is contracted substantially uniformly throughout its circumference with the result that tight scaling is effected between the cover flange l and bead 2 at all points. The operating mechanism I is constructed to provide a means for locking the ring ends in clamped-on position, in the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive, and in the form of construction shown in Figs. 8 to 14, inelusive, it is constructed to also provide means for locking the ring ends in their expanded position, which facilitates handling of the ring.

In Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the combined operating mechanism and locking means comprise the following: 9 indicates a rack member having a tail 9' suitably pivoted at 8x to the lug 8 (preferably on its lower face or side) and extending from the pivot 9min the direction of and beyond the lug 6. l0 indicates a crank fixed to a shaft, II, which rotates in an opening I! formed in the lug 6', the axis of the opening l2 being disposed inwardly from the ring 5 a distance slightly greater than the axis of the pivot for the tail 9'. The shaft II is provided in a plane below the ing 6' with a pinion i3 and below the pinion it is provided with a collar ll which forms 'a roller for a purpose later set forth. The shaft Ii, pinion l3 and collar [4 may be formed integrally.

The rack member is formed with an elongated slot or opening l5, preferably curved substantially concentric to the ring axis and having at its inner one opening to the other. The outer longitudinal wall of the opening l5 and outer side wall of the off-set opening l5 are provided with gear teeth forming a continuous rack IS with which the pinion l3 meshes, whereas the inner longitudinal wall.of' the opening l5 and inner side wall IQ of the off-set opening ii are smooth and connected tofori'n a rolling surface or guide I! for the collar M, to maintain the pinion [3 in engagement with the rack, the latter wall also forming a seat for the collar M as later'set-forth. That portion of the rack member which. forms the guide and seat for the collar l4, between the opposite free ends of the rack I 6 is off-set downwardly so as to be in the plane of the collar. The lower end of the shaft H is provided with a washer l8, held in place by the riveted over end of the shaft. The washer l8 bears against the lower face of the a guide carrying portion of the rack member 9 and co-acts with the crank ID to prevent endwise movement of the shaft and to hold the parts in operative relation. The crank l0 may be held on the upper end of the shaft II by riveting over such end or by means of a cotter pin. When desired, the crank may be detachably connected to the shaft ll. With these parts assembled, they prevent relative movement of the ring ends laterally of the plane of the ring when the ends are being brought together or moved away from each other, as later set forth. By turning the crank iii in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the pinion through its travel on the rack it will impart a thrust movement on the rack member 9 substantially endwise relative to the lug 8' and thus cause an expansion of the ring. By turning the crank in a clock-wise direction, the pinion l3 will move the rack member in the opposite direction and thus cause a contraction of the ring, as shown in Fig. 1. To effect a locking of the parts, with the ring in position on the cover flange and bead, I curve the inner side wall I9 01' the off-set opening ii on a radius struck from the axis of the pivot 9.1: for the tail 9'. Accordingly, in the further rotation of the pinion I3 after reaching that portion of the rack at the inner end of the opening I5, its engagement with the rack on the outer wall of the off-set opening l5 will cause the rack member to swing outwardly about its pivot 9a: relative to the shaft II, the curved wall I9 permitting of such movement and forming a seat for the collar, so that the latter to its normal resiliency. To permit of this movement of the rack member, the rack I6 is curved about the inner end of the inner side wall IS. in

unclamping the ring, rotation of the pinion counter-clockwise will first swing the rack member inwardly relatively to the shaft H. Such movement will move the inner end of the wall l9 beyond the collar l4 and unlock the latter, following which continued rotation of the pinion l3 by the crank III will cause it to traverse the rack, the effect of which will be to expand the ring 5, and thus permit removal of the cover 3. The outer end portion of the crank I 0, when in the ring clamping position, may be engaged behind the down-turned end of a clip 20 carried by the upper wall of the ring 5 (see Fig. 1) the resiliency of the crank and clearance between the parts be: ing sumcient to permit the crank to be deflected downwardly to ride such down-turned end. The

end wall of the off-set opening I 5' may serve as a stop to limit the outward swinging of the rack member.

Fig. '7 shows a modified form of construction in which the rack teeth are provided on the inner side wall of the opening I 5 and inner side wall of the opening l5 and the guide IT for the collar l4 extends along the outer sides of these openings. In this arrangement the pitch line of the rack on the inner side wall of the opening l5 and the opposed outer side wall l9 are concentric to the axis of the rack member pivot 9a:

so that in the movement of the crank I to the extreme end of its movement, the pinion l3 swings the rack member laterally and becomes locked behind the inner or free end. of this portion of the rack. In this arrangement, the crank I0 is turned clockwise to expand the ring and counter-clockwise to contract it.

Figs. 8, 9, and 11 show a further modified form of construction in which the ring is locked in its clamped-on position and locked in its unclamped or expanded position. This form of construction is also further modified in that the rack and guide wall for the pinion and collar are reversed as compared to the arrangement of these parts in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive. In providing a locking means for the ring in its expanded condition, the ring ends are held in fixed relation, which permits the ring to be easily handled, for example, when placing it in position for clamping and sealing the cover 3 or removing the ring from the cover after the latter has been released prior to its removal. In these views, the rack member, indicated at M, is pivoted at 9a to the lug 6, and is formed with a longitudinally extending curved opening its and off-set openings l5a at the opposite ends thereof; also, the rack teeth l6 are provided on the inner side wall of the opening l5a and inner side walls of the openings l5a'; and the guide H for the collar it to roll on and. maintain the pinion in mesh with the rack 16 is provided on the opposed walls of these openings. As shown, the outer side and outer end portions of the rack member carrying the guide'wall are ofi-set downwardly to dispose this wall in the plane of the collar. In this arrangement, the pitch lines for the rack teeth on the inner sides of the openings l5a' and the opposed guide Walls are concentric to the axis of the pivot 9a, so that in the movement of the crank Ill to the extreme end of its movement in either direction, the pinion I3 swings the rack member laterally and becomes locked behind the teeth at the end of the adjacent side wall and thus prevents the pinion l3 and collar H from entering the opening I5a. In this form of construction, as viewed in Fig. 8, the crank I0 is turned in the clockwise direction to expand the ring and in a counter-clockwise direction to contract it, and operation of the crank will rotate the pinion, which being fixed to the crank shaft 1 I, will move the rack member endwise and thus contract or expand the ring according to the direction of movement of the crank. When the construction is provided with means to lock the ring ends in expanded relation, the ring is expanded beyond its normal position so that the resiliency of the ring to return to its normal position may be utilized to maintain the parts in their locked relation. For this purpose, the opening 95a is arranged so that when the pinion I3 is at the inner end thereof the ring is contracted in opposition to its resiliency and when the pinion is at the outer end of the opening the ring is expanded in opposition to its resiliency. When the pinion is rotated in either direction it will traverse the opening a. and be guided into the adjacent off-set opening l5a' behind the inner end of the rack therein and continued rotation of the pinion will cause the rack member to swing laterally (outwardly) about its pivot 9a relative to the shaft II. It will thus be seen that when the pinion I3 is in either off-set opening I511, the ring ends are biased in clamped-on position or in expanded position beyond their normal position, so that the tendency of the ring to return to its normal position serves to hold the pinion in either opening 15a and prevent return of the rack member.

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 show a different embodiment of the invention in which the operating mechanism is simplified in such manner that the rack and the pinion element which meshes therewith co-operatively function to effect contraction of the ring when embracing the container bead and cover flange or expansion of the ring and looking thereof in either position; that is, I combine the rack and pinion and locking means so that a swingable rack member is eliminated. In these views the lug 6 is provided with an extension 2| which is preferably formed integrally therewith. The extension is off-set downwardly so as to lie in a plane below the lug 6' and extends beyond the latter, the length of the extension being such that its outer end does not move past the lug 6' when the ring is expanded for a reason which will later be apparent. One side wall of the extension 2! (preferably its outer side wall) is curved on an arc preferably struck approximately from a radius of the ring and is provided with a rack of the Geneva stop tooth type, having notches 22 connectedly spaced by arc-shaped lands 23. The shaft Ila for the crank Illa. is rotatably mounted in the lug- 6 and carries at its lower end, in a plane below the extension 2|, a disk 24 which preferably overlaps the extension 2| as shown in Fig. 13. Between that portion of the shaft which rotates in the lug 6 and the disk 24, the shaft I la is shaped to form a portion 24a. concentric to its axis and between the ends of the concentric portion, at one side of the shaft axis, I provide a tooth 25, preferably comprising a round head having a shank 26 extending through an opening in the disk and riveted over at its lower end. As will be understood, the tooth 25 enters the notches 22 and the concentric por tion 24a engages with and rotates in the lands; accordingly, turning of the crank clockwise as shown in Fig. 12 will effect engagement of the tooth 25 with the walls of the notches 22, successively, and cause expansion of the ring 5 and turning-of the crank in the opposite direction will cause a contraction of the ring. In this form of construction the extension forms the ra k member and is rigidly connected to the lug 6. The notches 22 are arranged so that the tooth engages with one end notch when the ring is fully contracted to seal the cover flange 4 to the bead 2 and with the other end notch whenv the ring is expanded. As the ring ends are locked against relative movement when the tooth 25 is in each notch, it will be seen that the ring will be locked when in either contracted position or expanded position. By preference, the outer end of the lug 6 is provided with a down-turned flange 26 arranged to engage the inner edge of the extension 2| to resist outward pressure thereon and relieve the lug 6 of undue strains.

In Figs. 16 to 21, inclusive, I show another embodiment wherein certain of the parts are reversed in that the rack and pinion guide are provided on one lug, thethrust member is pivoted to the other lug and the pinion and collar are mounted on the thrust element. In these views 6b, 61) indicate lugs suitably fixed to the upper wall of the ring 5 and projecting inwardly therefrom, adjacent its ends, respectively. By preference, the opposed edges of the lugs. 6b, 6b, are provided with complementary interlocking elements 8b, 81), similar to the elements already referred to. 26 indicates a thrust member pivoted at one end at 26a to the lug 6b and rotatably supporting at its opposite ends a shaft lib provided with a pinion I31) and a collar Mb therebelow. The thrust member preferably comprises a pair of links 26, 26' disposed above and below the lugs 61;, 6b, the pivot 26a serving to pivotally connect both links at one end to the lug 6b and a. spacer 21 surrounding the pivot 26a and between the lug 6b and lower link 26 being provided for a purpose which will later beapparent. The shaft N12 is rotatably supported in the opposite ends of the links. The pinion I32) and collar Mb are disposed between the links and are preferably formed integrally with the shaft I lb.

The upper end of the shaft is provided with an enlarged head He, shaped to provide a detachable connection for a crank Mb. The lower end of the shaft H b may be riveted over. The lug 6b is elongated circumferentially of the ring and formed with an elongated opening I 5b, preferably curved approximately concentrically to the ring axis, and at its opposite ends with off-set openings l5b' preferably extending inwardly, to

permit the links to swing laterally at the end of their thrust movement in either direction, as later set forth. The outer wall of the opening l5b and outer side walls of the openings l5b' are provided with gear teeth forming a continuous rack l6b. The inner side Wall of the opening I51) and inner side walls of the openings l5b' form guides l1b, l9b, for the collar I4 and by engagement therewith, they maintain the pinion in mesh with the rack lGb. That portion of the lug 61) between the opposite ends of the rack |8b and carrying the guides l'lb, I9!) is off-set downwardly so that the guides are disposed in the plane of the collar Mb; also, the inner side walls l9b of the openings I5b' are curved on radii struck from the axis of the pivot 26a so that when the pinion engages the rack on the outer side wall of either opening I51) and the thrust links 26 are swung laterally relative to the pinion shaft llb, these walls will engage the collar Hand maintain the pinion in mesh with the rack and in turn lock the links in their laterally operated position. With the ring 5 in position clamping the cover flange 4 to the receptacle bead 2, as shown in Fig. 16, the engagement of the collar I 41) with the adjacent wall l9b, under the tendency of the ring to expand, will prevent outward swinging movement of the links 26. If now the crank Ib is turned, the pinion l3b will (a) through its engagement with the rack on the outer side wall of the opening i 51) first swing the links outward- 1y, thus unlocking the links 26' from the lug 6b and (b) through its engagement with the rack on the outer side wall of the opening |b cause an endwise thrust movement of the links 26', the effect of which is to expand the ring 5. If the operation is continued the pinion l3-b will engage the rack of the outer side wall of the other opening l5b and cause the links to swing inwardly, thus disposing the collar Hb in engagement with the adjacent wall 19b. and locking the links against swinging movement outwardly. If now the crank Iflb is turned clockwise, the pinion will first swing the links outwardly, then eifect a thrust movement thereon and upon reaching the other opening I5b', it will swing the links inwardly and lock them against outward movement.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that in Figs. 1 to 15 the rack member and in Figs. 16 to 21, the links 26' serve as a thrust element between the ring ends or the lugs fixed thereto. As the thrust movement on the ring ends, in contracting or expanding the ring, is effected without outward or inward pressure on these ends or walls of the cover, the opposite portions of the ring are relatively moved substantially uniformly in either direction. It will also be noted that in Figs. 1 to 11, and 16 to 21, inclusive, the thrust element is pivoted to one lug and swings laterally when the collar and pinion are guided into one of the off-set openings and when so moved, by reason of the engagement of the pinion or collar with one side wall of the adjacent off-set opening (the collar in Figs. 1 to 6 and 16 to 21 and the pinion in Figs. 7 to 11) it operates as a releasable dog to lock the ring in one position. It will further be noted that the same elements are co-operatively related and constructed to contract and lock or expand and also look the ring by the single operation of the crank in one direction; and when the ring is in either position, the operation of the crank in the opposite direction will unlock the ring and operate it to its other locked position.

It will be noted that, in the several difierent embodiments of my invention here presented, the means employed to lock the clamp ring in position, either open or closed, such as the off-set openings or recesses l5, I5a' and l5b', with the walls of which certain parts, such as the collars 14, Mb, engage when the parts come into locking position, take the strains tending to move the clamp into a different position from that in which it is locked.

Provision is preferably made to seal the operating connections against unauthorized operation. For example, in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8 the clip 20 may be provided with an opening 28 which registers with an opening 29 in the crank I0, so that when the crank I0 is disposed in the clip, a wire may be passed through the openings and the ends thereof sealed by alead slug. In Figs. 16 and 17 I provide aligned openings 30 in the links 26' and an opening 3| in the'lug 6b. These openings are arranged to register when the ring 5 is mounted on the receptacle and contracted to secure the cover liquid-tight thereto, and to receive a wire 32, the ends of which may be sealed by a lead slug 33. In this latter arrangement, the crank may be detached when the receptacle is transported. In the forms of construction shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 12, if it is desired to detach the crank during transportation, the openings are formed in the thrust element and the lug relative to which it moves endwise.

To those skilled in the artto which my invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a receptacle and a cover having related annular portions, of a split channeled clamping ring adapted to be contracted and expanded circumferentially and arranged to embrace said annular portions for securing them together when the ring is contracted, and means between the ring ends for contracting and ex-v panding the ring and for locking the ring in one position, extending inwardly from the'ring adjacent its respective ends and comprisinga thrust member pivotally mounted at-one end on one lug, a'rack provided on the otherlug, a pinion cover having related annular portions, of a split channeled clamping ring adapted to be contracted and expanded circumferentially and arranged to embrace said annular portions for securing them together when the ring is contracted, and

means between the ring ends for contracting and expanding the ring and for locking the ring in one position, said means including lugs extending inwardly from the ring adjacent its respective ends-,a thrust member pivotally mounted at one end on one lug, a rack provided on the other lugs and provided with a guide wall, a shaft mounted on the other end of said thrust member and provided with a pinion arranged to mesh with said rack and a portion engaging said guide wall for maintaining said pinion in engagement with said rack, and a device for rotating said shaft.

3. The'combination with a receptacle and a cover having related annular portions, of a split channeled clamping ring adapted to be contracted and expanded circumferentially and arranged to embrace said annular portions for securing them together when the ring is con- 4 tracted, and means between the ring ends for contracting and expanding the ring and for locking the ring in one position, said means including lugs extending inwardly from the ring adjacent its respective ends, a thrust member pivotally mounted at one end on one lug, comprising a pair "of links disposed above and below said lugs and pivotally connected at one end to one lug, the other lug being formed with an elongated opening and provided with a rack, a shaft mount- 547: ed in the opposite ends of said links and carrying a pinion arranged to engage said rack and a device for rotating said shaft.

4. The combination with a receptacle and a cover having related annular portions, of a split ;5 channeled clamping ring adapted to be contracted and expanded circumferentially and arranged to embrace said annular portions for securing them together when the ring is contracted, and means between the ring ends for contracting 0 and expanding the ring and for locking the ring in one position, said means including lugs extending inwardly from the ring adjacent its respective ends, a thrust member pivotally mounted at one end on one lug and comprising a pair 5 of links above and below said lugs and pivotally connected at one end to one lug,

the other lug being formed with an elongated opening and an ofi-set opening at one end thereof, a continuous rack provided on adjacent side walls of said openings, a shaft carried by the opposite end of said links and provided with a pinion arranged to travel along said rack to effect a substantially endwise movement of said links to contract or expand said ring and to swing the links i laterally at the end of their endwise movement 2. The combination with a receptacle and a and adevice for rotating said shaft, and a wall I on the opposite side' of said ofi-set opening'arranged to co-operate with the rack to lock the links when swung laterally. I

5. The combination'with a receptacle and a cover having related annular portions, of a split channeledclamping .ring adapted to .be contracted and expanded circumferentially and arranged to embrace said annular portions for securing them together when the ringis contracted, means between the ring ends for contracting and expanding the ring and for locking the ring in'either position, said means including lugs extending inwardly from the. ring adjacent its respective ends, a pair of links above and 7 below said lugs and pivotally connected at one and a device for rotating said'shaft, and a wall on the opposite side of each of said oiT -set openings arranged to co-operateyyith the rack to lock the links when swung laterally.

6. The combination with a receptacle and a. cover having related annular portions, of a split channel clamping ring adapted to be contracted and expanded circumferemially, and engageable with said annular portions for securing them together, means for contracting and expanding said ring, comprising members carried by the ring ends, one of said members being swingably mounted on the adjacent ring end, one of said members consisting of a wall formed with an opening having an elongated portion and an inwardly off-set portion at one end thereof, the corresponding sides of said portions being provided with a continuous rack, and a pinion rotatably supported by the other member and arranged to mesh with said rack, and means for rotating said pinion to cause relative movement of said membersduring traverse of the pinion through the elongated portion of said opening said pinion and the pivot for said swingable;,

member and operates to lock the members in a predetermined position.

7. The combination with a receptacle and a cover having related annular portions, of a split channeled clamping ring adapted to be contracted ind expanded circumferentially and engageable with the said annular portions for securing them together when the ring is contracted thereon; lugs extending inwardly from the ring adjacent each end thereof, intermeshing gear elements directly connected to the aforesaid lugs and arranged to either contract or expand the ring at will as they intermesh, and means for locking the clamping ring in the position to which it is moved by the gearing and also relieving the gearing from direct strain due to tendency on the part of the ring to return to the position from which it was moved, comprising an ofi-set opening on one gearing element with a bearing surface and a contact portion carried by the other gear element adapted to come into engagement with the said bearing surface at the conclusion of the movement of the ring by the gearing elements.

8. The combination with a receptacle and a 5 cover having related annular portions, of a split channeled clamping ring adapted to be contracted and expanded circumierentially and engageable with said annular portions for securing them together when the ring is contracted, and means 10 between the ends of the ring for contracting and expanding said ring, said means comprising a member provided with a rack and a member provided with a pinion in mesh with said rack, one or said members being swingably supported 15 on the adjacent ring end, one end of said rack being curved laterally inwardly, and a guide at. opposite the rack and having a shoulder opposite the curved portion of the rack to permit the pinion when moved into meshing relation with go the lateral]; curved end of the rack toswing the said swinging member laterally and lock said members in fixed relation.

9. The combination with a receptacle'and a cover having related annular portions, of a split channeled clamping ring adapted to be contracted and expanded circumferentially and engageable with said annular portions for securing them to- 5 gether when the ring is contracted, and means between the ends of the ring for contracting and expanding said ring, said means comprising a member provided with a rack and a member provided with a pinion in mesh with said rack, 19 one of-said members being swingably supported on the adjacent ring end, each end of said rack being curved laterally inwardly to permit the pinion when moved into meshing relation with either laterally curved end of the. rack to swing 15 w said swinging member laterally, and a guide opposite the rack and having a shoulder opposite the curved portion of the rack whereby said members are locked in fixed relation when said ring is in either its contracted or expanded 20 position.

' VERNON E. CORNELL. 

